Pump plunger



J. W. HARRIS PUMP PLUNGER Sept. 1, 1964 Filed Jan. 12, 1962 .s R m 'N. aENJ r f mm M 4 r N" w W M,

United States Patent f 3,146,725 PUMP PLUNGER Jacob W. Harris, Anaheim, Calif., assignor to Dresser Industries, Inc, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 12, 19,62, Ser. No. 165,800 11 Claims. (Cl. 103225) This invention relates generally to pumps, and relates more particularly to pistons or plungers for reciprocating pumps.

While the invention has particular utility in connection with plungers for reciprocating pumps, and is shown and described in such connection, it is to be understood that it is not confined thereto.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pump plunger having a self-cleaning action sothat solid or semi-solid particles which might pass between the plunger and the barrel of the pump during the pumping action will not accumulate or build up into obstructing masses.

It is another object of the invention to provide a plunger of this character which will prevent sticking of the plunger in the pump barrel.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device of this character having an external helical groove portion in which pressure is reduced so that the amount of leakage through the groove may be controlled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plunger of this character wherein the fluid pressure or load is distributed throughout the length of the plunger.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device of this character wherein the groove provides a reservoir for lubrication of the plunger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be of either resilient or nonresilient materials.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device of this character wherein, when a resilient material is used, the material can flow laterally into a groove, allowing for an interference fit between the plunger and the barrel.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of this character having an external groove which provides space for the lateral flow of material of the plunger.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device of this character wherein excessive pressure of the plunger against the barrel is prevented and, hence, leaking of the pump is prevented.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of this character having bridge means across the groove.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device of this character having bridge means across the groove to restrict or limit the flow of fluid through the groove and reduce the pressure of the fluid passing through the groove.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of this character that is simple in construction.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device of this character that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of this character that is rugged, durable and effective in operation.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufficiently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, which represent certain embodiments. After considering these examples, skilled persons will understand that variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed and I contemplate the employment 3,146,725 Patented Sept. 1., 1964 of any structures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a portion of a pump installed in a well casing, said pump having a plunger embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the plunger;

FIG. 3 is the fragmentary side view of a plunger embodying an alternative arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view of another alternative arrangement; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a pump having a plunger embodying the present invention, said pump being installed in a well production tubing or casing 11 There is disposed within the tubing or casing 10 a packer member indicated generally at 12 and comprising a body 14 having a longitudinal inlet passage 15 therethrough. The body 14 includes an enlarged annular flange 16 on the exterior thereof having an inwardly inclined notch 17 at the lower end. Below flange 16 are disposed a plurality of packer rings 18 of any suitable well known material, said packer rings being spaced apart relative toeach other by spacers 19. The packer rings are generally triangular in cross-section with the base at the inner side, the apex of each ring being cut off to provide a cylindrical surface 29 which engages the inner wall of the tubing or casing, thereby preventing flow of fluid upwardly about the packer. The spacers 19 are of smaller external diameter than the external diameter of the packer rings and the internal diameter of the tubing or casing 10, the ends of said spacers being shaped to conform to the shape of the adjacent ends of the packer rings 18.

Upward longitudinal movement of the packer rings and spacers is limited by the adjacent shoulder of the flange 16 and said packer rings and spacers are securely held on the lower end of the packer body by means of an enlarged internally threaded upper end part 22 of an inlet pipe 23. Inlet pipe 23 is provided at its lower end with the usual well known strainer, not shown, and said pipe has an internal passage 24 registering with the passage 15 of the packer body 14.

At its upper end, the packer body 14 is provided with a reduced diameter nipple 24 having external threads thereon for threadable reception of the internally threaded lower end portion 25 of a valve cage, indicated generally at 26. Valve cage 26 has a plurality of annularly spaced arms 27 which are spaced apart to provide flow passages 28 therebetween. Within the valve cage 26 is disposed a movable ball 29 which is limited in its upper movement by an end plate 31! of the valve cage, said ball normally resting on a valve seat 31 at the upper end of nipple 24, said plate 30 being spaced upwardly a sufficient distance to permit the ball to unseat and to permit upward flow of fluid from passage 15 and into the lower end of a pump cylinder 35, said ball 29 seating on seat 31 to prevent reverse flow of fluid. The cage 26, ball 29, and seat 31 comprise a standing valve and the above described assembly is held in position in any usual wellknown manner.

Cylinder 35 is internally threaded at its lower end for threadable reception on the externally threaded upper end portion 37 of the packer body, the lower end of said cylinder abutting against the upper end 38 of the flange 16, said end 33 comprising a shoulder.

Pump cylinder 35 extends upwardly from the standing valve to the rod guide, the rod guide having ports 42a for fluid to pass from the pump cylinder into the production tubing or casing 10. Fluid flow through the mechanism is indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 1.

Tubing string or casing extends to the surface from the formation to which the well is drilled and the sucker rod 43 extends downwardly through such production tubing or casing string and into the cylinder 35. At the lower end of the sucker rod 43 there is disposed a plunger assembly, indicated generally at 45.

Plunger assembly 45 includes a traveling valve, indicated generally at 46, and a plunger, indicated generally at 47.

Traveling valve 46 comprises a cage, indicated generally at 48, said cage including an internally threaded connector member 49 which is screwed onto a reduced diameter upper end portion 50 of a plunger body 51 having a longitudinal passage 52 therethrough. Connector 49 has an upper end wall 53 with an opening 54 therethrough and extending upwardly from wall 53 are a plurality of arms 55 which are annularly spaced apart to provide flow passages 56 therebetween. At the upper ends of the arm is a wall 57 having a longitudinally extending tapped bore 58 in which the lower threaded end portion 60 of the sucker rod or pump rod 43 is screwed to thereby connect the plunger assembly to the lower end of said sucker rod. Within the cage 48 is a movable valve member or ball 6?. which is normally seated on a seat 63 at the upper end of the plunger body 51 and about the upper end of the passage 52. The wall 57 of the valve cage is spaced upwardly from the ball 62 to permit upward movement of said ball, so that fluid may flow from the passage 52 into the pump cylinder.

Plunger body 51 has a lower end portion 65 which is of slightly enlarged diameter and which has upper and lower shoulders 66 and 67. From the lower shoulder 67 there extends longitudinally a lower end portion 68 of the same external diameter as the external diameter of the body portion 51 between the shoulder 66 and the reduced diameter part 50.

On the enlarged portion 65 of the plunger body is molded a sleeve, indicated generally at 70, said sleeve being of suitable resilient material, such as rubber or the like, which resists the action of fluid with which said sleeve comes in contact. There are various well known materials that may be used. The sleeve 70 is provided with a helical external groove 71 formed by a projecting helical rib 72.

While the sleeve 70 is molded on the body of the plunger with the ends of said sleeve extending beyond the upper and lower ribs respectively, it is to be understood that said sleeve may be otherwise secured to the plunger body by using a suitable bonding material. Bonding materials for bonding rubber and the like to metal are well known.

The plunger assembly is reciprocated within the cylinder 35 by upward and downward movement of the string of sucker rods.

Solid particles which might pass between the plunger and the barrel of a pump during the pumping action will not build up because, when the particles pass by a section of the rib 72 they fall or move into the groove and pass freely through it. This provides a self-cleaning action for the plunger and prevents sticking of the pump.

The length and cross-sectional area of the grooved portion of the plunger are calculated for given conditions so that friction of the fluid passing through the groove reduces the pressure to thereby control the amount of leakage through the groove.

The continuous groove also allows the fluid pressure or load to be distributed uniformly over the entire length of the plunger instead of at one pressure point, the groove further providing a reservoir for lubrication of the plunger.

As the material of the sleeve is resilient such material can flow laterally into the groove, thereby providing an interference fit between the plunger and the barrel. This groove 71 also provides space for lateral flow of material when it swells, thus preventing excessive pressure of the plunger against the barrel and preventing sticking of the pump.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there are longitudinally aligned webs which extend across the groove portions between adjacent rib sections. The webs are indicated at St and it is to be noted that said webs are only in the bottom portions of the groove, so that fluid may flow through the groove throughout its entire length, although at a restricted rate. It is to be noted that the webs are located at diametrically opposite sides of the sleeve. The webs 82, as shown in FIGURE 5, are longitudinally aligned relative to the sleeve and the outer edges of said webs are in the cylindrical plane of the outer edges of the rib 72, so that said webs block fluid flow through the groove.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 2 provides certain functions for certain types of installations. The arrangement shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are for another type of installation and the arrangement shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 provide a pump plunger for still another type of installation.

While the above described arrangements of the present invention have sleeves that are of resilient material, it is to be understood that nonresilient materials may be used for certain types of installation.

The invention and its attendant advantages will be unerstood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing its material advantages, the embodiments hereinbefore described being merely for purposes of illustration.

I claim:

1. A pump plunger, comprising:

(A) a cylindrical body having (a) a reduced diameter, externally threaded longitudinally extending portion at one end (b) and an enlarged cylindrical portion at the opposite end (0) with shoulders at the ends of said enlarged portion,

(d) said body having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough (c) with a valve seat at the end of the reduced diameter portion about the adjacent end of said passage;

(B) a traveling valve secured to the reduced diameter portion of said body,

(a) said traveling valve having a movable valve member adapted to seat on said valve seat;

(C) and a tubular sleeve of resilient material on said enlarged portion of the cylindrical body,

(a) said sleeve having end parts overlappingly engaging said shoulders (b) and a continuous spiral rib around its periphery from one end thereof to the other defining a groove,

(0) and a series of longitudinally aligned webs at diametrically opposite sides of said sleeve and across said groove formed by said rib.

2. A pump plunger, comprising:

(A) a cylindrical body (a) having a reduced diameter, externally threaded longitudinally extending portion at one end (b) and an enlarged cylindrical portion at the opposite end (0) with shoulders at the ends of said enlarged portion,

((1) said body having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough (c) with a valve seat at the end of the reduced diameter portion;

(B) and a tubular sleeve of resilient material on said enlarged portion of the cylindrical body,

(a) said sleeve having end parts overlappingly engaging said houlders,

(b) a continuous spiral rib around its periphery from one end thereof to the other defining a groove,

(c) and a series of longitudinally aligned Webs across the groove formed by said rib.

3. A pump plunger, comprising: (A) a cylindrical body (a) having a reduced diameter, externally threaded longitudinally extending portion at one end (b) and an enlarged cylindrical portion at the opposite end (0) With shoulders at the ends of said enlarged portion,

(d) said body having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough (e) with a valve seat at the end of the reduced diameter portion;

(B) and a tubular sleeve of resilient material on said enlarged portion of the cylindrical body,

(a) said sleeve having end parts overlappingly engaging said shoulders,

(b) a continuous spiral rib around its periphery from one end thereof to the other defining a groove,

(0) and Webs across the groove formed by said rib partially closing said groove.

4. A pump plunger, comprising: (A) a cylindrical body (11) having a reduced diameter, externally threaded longitudinally extending portion at one end (b) and an enlarged cylindrical portion at the opposite end (c) with shoulders at the ends of said enlarged portion,

(d) said body having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough (e) with a valve seat at the end of the reduced diameter portion;

(B) and a tubular sleeve of resilient material on said enlarged portion of the cylindrical body,

(a) said sleeve having end parts overlappingly engaging said shoulders,

(b) a continuous spiral rib around its periphery from one end thereof to the other defining a groove,

(c) and Webs across the groove formed by said rib fully closing said groove.

5. In apump plunger: (A) a cylindrical body (a) having a reduced diameter, externally threaded longitudinally extending portion at one end (b) and an enlarged cylindrical portion at the opposite end with shoulders at the ends of said enlarged portion,

(0) said body having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough (d) With a valve seat at the outer end of the reduced diameter portion;

(B) and a tubular sleeve of resilient material around said enlarged portion of the cylindrical body,

(a) said sleeve having end parts overlappingly engaging said shoulders (19) and a continuous spiral rib around its periphery from one end thereof to the other defining a correspondingly continuous groove. 6. A pump plunger, including (A) a cylindrical body having (a) a longitudinally extending passage there through (b) With a valve seat at one end; (B) (a) a tubular sleeve of resilient material retained around a portion of said cylindrical body (b) and a continuous spiral rib around said sleeve from one end thereof to the other defining a correspondingly continuous spiral groove. 7. A pump plunger, including: (A) a cylindrical body having (a) a longitudinally extending passage therethrough (b) with a valve seat at one end; (B) (a) a tubular sleeve on said cylindrical body (b) and a continuous spiral rib on said tubular sleeve defining a groove from one end thereof to the other (0) said rib being of resilient material. 8. A pump plunger, including: (A) a cylindrical body having (a) a longitudinally extending passage therethrough (b) with a valve seat at one end; (B) a continuous spiral rib on a portion of said body defining a groove, (C) and webs across said groove. 9. A sealing element for a pump plunger: (A) a tubular sleeve; (B) a continuous spiral rib around the periphery of said sleeve defining a groove; (C) and Webs in said groove. 10. In a pump plunger: (A) a cylindrical body (at) having an intermediate cylindrical portion with shoulders at the ends thereof, (b) said body having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough (c) with a valve seat at the one end thereof; (B) and a tubular sleeve of resilient material around said intermediate cylindrical portion of the cylindrical body,

(a) said sleeve having end parts engaging said shoulders, (b) and a continuous spiral rib around its periphery from one end thereof to the other defining a correspondingly continuous groove. 11. The invention defined by claim 10, including restrictions in said groove for restricting fluid flow in said groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,301,319 Peters Nov. 10, 1942 2,782,082 Harrah Feb. 19, 1957 2,962,978 Reeves Dec. 6, 1960 

1. A PUMP PLUNGER, COMPRISING: (A) A CYLINDRICAL BODY HAVING (A) A REDUCED DIAMETER, EXTERNALLY THREADED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PORTION AT ONE END (B) AND AND ENLARGED CYLINDRICAL PORTION AT THE OPPOSITE END (C) WITH SHOULDERS AT THE ENDS OF SAID ENLARGED PORTION, (D) SAID BODY HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PASSAGE THERETHROUGH (E) WITH A VALVE SEAT AT THE END OF THE REDUCED DIAMETER PORTION ABOUT THE ADJACENT END OF SAID PASSAGE; (B) A TRAVELING VALVE SECURED TO THE REDUCED DIAMETER PORTION OF SAID BODY, (A) SAID TRAVELING VALVE HAVING A MOVABLE VALVE MEMBER ADAPTED TO SEAT ON SAID VALVE SEAT; 